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Blackjack991

double on soft hands?

So what’s the consensus when it comes to doubling down on soft hands? Like soft 16 or soft 18 against a dealer’s weak card. I know the book says one thing, but every table seems to have at least one guy who swears you’re burning money doing it, especially if the dealer’s upcard is a six. I’ve had nights where doubling soft 17 made me feel like a genius, then a week later it’s all snake eyes and regret.

I’ve tried mixing it up based on the count, but I’m not exactly Rain Man with the math. Just want to hear what folks here have landed on after running enough shoes.

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2 comments
D
395•

honestly the part i’d push back on is this idea that a dealer 6 means you just sit there and “let them bust.” that’s the table myth i hear every week, same as sports betting guys talking themselves into a bad number because it feels right. soft hands are made for aggression because you can’t really wreck them the same way. soft 18 vs 3 through 6 is a double in a lot of standard games for a reason, not because the book wants to be cute. i’ve tracked enough sessions to know the pain stands out way more than the math. one ugly doubled soft 17 feels like a bad beat, ten boring correct doubles disappear. do the boring right thing and let the results even out. still, plenty of shoes ahead.

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M
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The dealer's six is exactly why it gets interesting. You're not really betting on your soft hand being amazing, you're taking advantage of the dealer being in a worse position.

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